Hydraulic inlet system for papermaking machines



Jan. 12, 1943. w. R. KELLETT El AL HYDRAULIC INLET SYSTEM FOR PAPER MAKING MACHINES I Filed Aug. 19, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 W JaWrM Jan. 12, 1943. w. R. KELLETT ETAL 2,303,370

HYDRAULIC INLET SYSTEM FOR PAPER MAKING MACHINES v Filed Aug. 19,1939 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 12, 1943. w'. R. KELLETT EI'AL HYDRAULIC INLET SYSTEM FOR PAPER MAKING MACHINES Filed Aug. 19, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jan. 12, 1943. w. R. KELLETT ETAL 2,303,137 0 HYDRAULIC INLET SYSTEM FOR PAPER MAKING MACHINES 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 I GM v 7 5 Jan. 12, 1943. w. R. KELLETT ETAL 2,303,370

HYDRAULIC INLET SYSTEM FOR PAPER MAKING MACHINES 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 19, 1959 ffgverzfi 5: I

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Jan. 12, 1943. w. R. KELLETT EI'AL 2,308,370

HYDRAULIC INLET SYSTEM FOR PAPER MAKING MACHINES 622192? J Huron Cfiien 7 J fa nan m 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented Jan. 12, 1943 HYDRAULIC INLET SYSTEM FOR PAPER- MAKING MACHINES William R. Kellett, Menasha, and Huron O. Brien,

Neenah, Wis., assignors to Paper Patents Company, Neenah,'Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application August 19, 1939, 'Serial No. 291,108

16 Claims.

This invention relates to the art of paper makingmachines of the Fourdrinier type, and has reference more particularly to the slice that controls the flow and distribution of the stock onto the wire. The invention is of especial value in high speed machines for making very thin paper such as tissue paper, crepe wadding, and the like.

In an application heretofore flled by us on the tenth day of March, .1939, Serial No. 260,956, we have disclosed a hydraulic inlet system employing a downwardly and forwardly inclined slice hinged on the forward end of the inflow box and carrying on its forward end a vertical flexible lip projecting below the lower end of the slice, and means for locally flexing or warping the projecting portion of the lip in the direction of the machine length, in order to produce an equal rate of flow of the stock across the width of the paper machine and compensate for the slightly varying inequalities of flow that characterize inlet systems which afford an approximately uniform rate of flow. v

Later experiments made by us have shown' that the same result may be obtained by a somewhat simpler structure based on a different mechanical principle, according to which theslice plate, instead of being inclined'and hinged; is mounted vertically and pressed against upper and lower bearings on the front of a guide rail attached to the front end of the inlet box, the lower end of the slice body having attached thereto a rigid vertical lip directly overlying the Fourdrinier wire and pressed against the lower bearing of the guide rail. Manually operable means are provided for effecting a micrometer adjustment of the slice vertically to level the slice and obtain a uniform spacing of the lower edge of the lip from the wire across the full width'of the pass for the magnetic clutch that can be quick- 1y brought into service in the event that the clutch fails to function as an element of the power lowering .and raising mechanism.

Owing to the high stock pressure employed in this machine, and thexfactzthat the-.ilower edge of the slice is so close to the wire that only: the fibrous mat deposited on the ,wirebehind the slice and a'thin lubricating film of stock on the mat pass beneath the slice, while the great bulk of the water is discharged through that area of the wire between-the breast roll and the slice, as developed in Patent No. 2,134,408 to William R. Kellett, dated October 25, 1938, it is a matter of considerable difficulty to prevent the stock from squirting out sidewise at and behind the lower edge of the lip of the slice; and, another feature of the present invention resides in improved sealing mechanism for this area of the machine, the problem of providing effective sealing means being complicated by the fact that latter, power means are provided for lowering and raising the slice toward and from the wire when starting up and shutting down the operation of the machine, such power means including a magnetic clutch in the power transmission line that is normally energized to closed position but automatically opens if and when the energizing current of the magnet fails, and a weightactuated quick lift mechanism is provided for raising the slice to a safe position above the wire that instantly goes into action when the mag-- so great is the pressure ofthe stock on the area of the wire between the breast roll and the slice that said area is depressed considerably below a straight line tangent to the tops of the breast roll and the first table roll. I

Among the objects of the present invention are, to provide an improved device, including a vertically slidable slice, for delivering the stock onto the wire at an equal and uniform rate of flow of the stock across the full width of the machine and avoiding inequalities in the thickness of the deposited mat that will not any local flexing or warping of the-lip of the slice as in our aforesaid pending application; to provide improved micrometer mea'ns for adjusting the slice vertically to bring the lower edge of the lip into exact parallelism with, and to the desired distance above, the surface ofthe wire; to provide an improved mounting for the vertically movable slice that will prevent. jamming of the slice by reason of an accumulation of stock in back of the vertical lip and interfere with the operation of the quick lift device;- to provide an improved design of stock inlet and spout that will permit locating the distributing ,roll further forward than has been possible in previous designs so that it is more nearly above the mat forming area on the wire, which permits a final equalization of flow and breaking up of lumm, which is especially effective due to the close proximity of the distributing roll to the forming area; to provide an improved .power means for raising and lowering the slice from and toward the wire when shutting down and starting up the operation of the machine, to provide in association with said power means a quick lift mechanism that will instantly and automatically raise the slice to a safe position above the wire in the event of any failure of the raising and lowering means to maintain the slice in correct position during operation of the machine, to provide a simple and easily operated emergency means for fully raising and lowering the slice in the event of failure of the power operated means; to provide improved means for sealing the sides of the inlet spout and the side edges of the slice against lateral escape of stock; and, generally, to provide an improved and highly eflicient hydraulic inlet system especially well adapted for use on high speed Fourdrinier machines operating on very dilute stock flowing through the inlet and onto the wire at high pressure,

Still other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to paper makers and experts and others skilled in the art from the following detailed description of an approved embodiment thereof shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through the inlet box, with parts of the slice appearing in edge elevation, and with the slice in operating position.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation, broken out, of slightly more than one-half the width of the machine. 1 Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section, taken on the staggered line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 3a is a perspective detail of an element of one of the slice clamps.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation of the sealing mechanism at the ends of the inlet spout and slice.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken on the line 5-6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section through a magnetic clutch on the lift shaft of the slice, taken on line 'l-l of Fig. 8.

Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken on the line 3-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig.9 is a detail section taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. '7.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of an end portion of the slice and its guide rail, showing the parts separated.

Fig. 11 is a group view in perspective of the parts making up the sealing mechanism.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary vertical section through a part of the sealing mechanism, taken on the line |2|2 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of an apron clamp.

Our present improvements'are herein shown applied to a paper making machine substantially like that forming the subject matter of Letters Patent of William R. Kellett, No. 2,134,408, dated October 25, 1938, except as to the slicestructure and mounting; but they are, of course, applicable to any paper making machine of the Fourdrinier type.

Inlet b x Referring to Figs. 1 and 3, a pair of stationary side-frames I5 support on their top horizontal edges a pair of vertical walls IS with flanges by which they may be rigidly clamped on the side frames l5. Secured in a liquid tight manner to and between walls l6 are curved upper and lower plates l1 and I8 which'with the side walls It form a closed spout of a generally goose-neck form. The cross section of this spout has been o designed that there are no hydraulic dead areas present Where stock can clog or settle out. The design also provides for a high velocity flow through the inlet for the same reason. Preferably also, to avoid fouling, the interior of the spout is made of stainless steel.

Extending between and connecting the side frames I5 is a cross beam l9 formed with an integral top plate 20, the forward portion 20 of which projects forwardly so as to partly overhang the breast roll 2|. On this forward portion 20' rests a nozzle plate 22 to which is attached the rear end of an apron 23 (later described) that forms the lower stationary wall of the discharge nozzle of the inlet box.

Slidable on the top plate 20 and the rear portion of the nozzle plate 22 is a plate 24, to the forward edge of which the forward edge of the lower spout plate I8 is secured. Secured to and continuous with the rear portion of the plate 24 is a depending frame structure 25 lying between and secured to depending portions of the side walls IS. The frame structure 25 constitutes a holder and stifiener for the depending portion of the spout.

To the lower end of the frame 25 are connected stock supply conduits 26 which include flexible hose sections leading from a stock supply pump (not shown). The plates 20 and 24 are formed with registering slots 21 and 28 respectively, through which extends a clamp bolt 29. This construction permits bodily fore and aft adjustment of the entire inlet box relatively to the machine frame and the breast roll.

Between the side walls l6 extends a hollow beam 30, to the lower side of which the forward terminal portion of the upper spout plate I1 is welded or otherwise secured.

The parts as thus far described are or may be substantially as shown and described in the aforesaid Kellett Patent No. 2,134,408.

Slice structure and mounting The slice structure and mounting are best shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Attached to the front wall of the beam 30 as by machine screws 3| is the vertical wall 32 of a bracket that is formed 'with a top horizontal wall 33. a somewhat narrower bottom horizontal wall 34, and intermediate vertical bracing ribs v35. The screws 3| pass through vertical slots 36 in the wall 32, and through smooth metal lining sheets 31 and 31' that reduce friction. This bracket, and the slice mounting and adjusting par-ts carried thereby, may be adjusted vertically, after the clamp screws 3| have been released, by a'mechanism, including a cross shaft 38 and a hand wheel 39 for turning the same, that is fully shown and described in ,Letters Patent to Kellett and Ostertag,- No.

2,060,808, granted November 17, 1936. Extending across the ends of and forwardly of the bracket are side plates 40 that may be formed as forward continuations of the side walls I3 of the inlet box.

A brass guide rail 4| having the cross-sectional form shown in Fig. 3 is secured by machine screws section in Fig. 3. It is a substantially hollow structure with end walls 44 and vertical reinforcing ribs 45 (Fig. 5). Its inner surface is flat and downwardly and forwardly inclined, as shownjat 46 in Fig. 3, and it forms the upper fixed member I of the spout discharge nozzle, wholly overhanging "continuous with the-forward end of theupper wall II of the inlet box spout. In-a countersunk portion of the front wall of thisguide rail at its lower end-is secured, asby screws 41, a liner strip 48. preferably .of a'material known in the-trade as "molded hydrotex, inthe face of which is a groove 49. containing a rubber hearing strip'50.

'The guide rail 4| is also formed on its upper'side with' a vertical extension having a forwardly 53', andsecur'ed-in a countersink ,in' the-lower portion of the rear face of the slice plate, as by bolts 54, a rigid vertical lip 55 that is formed with a beveled lower edge and has a sliding bearing on the bearing strip 59. v

The slice platejand its lip are elastically pressed enters a tapped sleeve ll.

a rod I0, the lower end of which is threaded-and Sleeve II is pivotally mounted at 12 on the forwardend of a twin link lever 13, the rear end ofwwhichleveris fulcrumed .at I4 on a bracket 15 (Fig. :3); attached by a 1 machine screw I6 to the-inner side of the vertical bracket wall 32.

Pivoted .at -11, between the members of the twin lever 1.3'is an eye bolt'.18 ,-the threadedstem of which engages with asleeve nut 119 (Fig. 3) that is rotatablymounted int-a bearing 80 that, in turn, is non-rotatably-and pivotally mounted between thetwinlimbs 8l (Fig.v 2) of a forked-bracket 82 that is strongly secured by machine screws 63 to the upper; portion of the slice 1ate53. By means of a knurled head l9 keyed on the upper end of nut "I9 micrometeradjustments of the height .of the slice can readily be made at the two ends of the slicer-.1

' Also mounted on the top bracket'wall 33- about mid-center of the machine is a bracket 84 that supports a. transversely extending motor and gear housing designated as an entirety by 85 (Fig. 3). Keyed. on the shaft 86 ,of a reversible electric motor. indicated generally at-8'I,-which-includes a reduction gearing indicated by 8'l.',.-is a worm 'gear 88 (see also Fig. 7) meshing, with and driving aworm wheel 89 that isintegral with asleeve against the bearings 52 and 50 of the guide rail 1 by a group of spaced clamps. Each of these clamps comprises a rod 56 (Figs. 2; 3and 5) that has a threaded rear end screwed into a' tapped socket in one of the ribs 45 of the guide rail, a clamp block 51' preferably of the semi-disc shape best'shown in Figs. 3 and 3a; slidably mounted 'on the rod 56 and pressed against' 'theslice by a 'thrustspring 58 (Figs. 3 and-'5) confined in a thimble 59 slidablymounted on rod 56for'wardly of andfbearingagainst the block 51;, the outer end of the spring being backed bya- 'nut"60 on the outer threaded end of .the'rod 56. Rod 56 extends through a vertical slot 6| in the slice plate 53, and the block 51 ha on its fiat-slice engaging face a tongue 62 that rides in-a vertical gulde groove 63 in'the front face of th'eslice plate 53 that'registers with the slot' 6-I. Manifestly, by

turning thenut 69 in one direction or the other the spring pressure of the slice'plate and its lip on the bearings -52 and 50 may be varied as de'-" sired. This elastic yieldable clamping of theslice on its bearings prevents the slice from being pressed too tightly against the bearing surfaces, giving a certain degree of resiliencywhich prevents jamming 0f the slice through' accumulat'ion" v .of stock in back of the lip. and-insuring the operation of the weight-actuated quick lift mechanism later described. I r I Slice raising and lowering and leveling mechanism A power operated mechanism for "raising and lowering the slice when shutting down and starting up the machine is provided, and in this same mechanism'i's included a manually operable micrometer mechanism for levelingthe lower edge of the'islice lip .-at exactly the desired distance from the wire. g y i I Describing. this raising and loweringmechanism,'which is best illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3,

- mountedon the top wall 33 are a pair of brackets -64 each having a bearing for a tubular rotary lift v shaft 65 that extends crosswise of the inlet. "Fast I on each end "of the shaft 65 is a collar 66. (Figs. 1 and 2), on the outer face ofwhich collar is an eccentric pin 61', that, as'best shownin Fig. 1,

" is engaged with abearing 68 formed as a'late'ral 96 loose on the lift shaft .65. The, worm wheel 89 might be directly keyed to the lift shaft 65 for raising and lowering the slice each time the reversible motor is energized; but to providefor a quick-lift of the slice to prevent ,injuryto the slice lip by the Fourdrinier wire in .theeventthat either 1 the slice motor or the pump motor shouldfail, we

' preferably interpose in the transmission line from the motor to the lift :shafta normallyclosed magn'etic clutch, that is energized to-closed -position by the same current .that energizes said:mOtOrs, and automatically opens upon an interruption of the current to permit the quick liftmechanism to act. f l

' Magnetic clutchv The magnetic clutch last referred to is illustrated in Figs. 2, ,7, 8, and-9. ononeend'of'the sleeve '90 is a radial flange 9 I- to which'isattached, as by screws 92, aring 93. On the outer periphery of the ring 93 is a lateral flange 94 formed with'spaced inwardly extending teeth 95 that engage notches 95' on a fioatinglaterally shiftable ring 96 that constitutes the driving clutch member. On the inner faceof. ring 96'is a ring of clutch teeth 91. The ring96isslidably supported f onpins 98 mounted in the ring 93, and is spring urged tounclutching position by thrust springs In on the periphery ofa circular magnet frame I62 that is keyed at I83 to the shaft 65, and contains I and m. V

the magnetic field I04.'. A lead from the pump circuitlenters thelmagnetic field 'I84 through a hollow rubber cable 105, and a sealing ring I06 encircles the cooperating rings of clutch teeth 91 I The magnet is normally energized, and the field I04 attracts the clutch ring 96,,thus, maintaining the clutch teeth engaged against the thrust of the springs 99. But if and when the magnet ,becomes de-energized, as by break-down 'of the pump circuit,-the spri-ngs'99 react and instantly disengage the teeth 91 from the teeth I 8|, putting the clutch out ofcomm issioman d interrupting the drive tothe lift shaft 65.

An emergency. safety feature for use in case the clutch should Jam or need repairsconsists ofan arm I01 that overlies the clutch and is pivoted at one end on pivot screws I08 (Fig. 8) mounted in the upper end of a plate I09 stron ly attached to the outer side ofz'tl'i'e ring 93 as by screws IIO. On the other end of arm Ill! is a flat horizontal flange III, to the underside of which is secured, as by machine screws I I2, a split clamp sleeve I I3 that loosely encircles the lift shaft 65. On the lower ends of the sides of the sleeve II3 are depending ears II4 having registering apertures, one of each pair being tapped. These apertures are engaged by clamp screws II5. Normally, so long as the clutch is functioning properly, the shaft 65 turns freely in the sleeve 3. But if the clutch breaks down, the clamp screws II5 may be quickly tightened up, and this establishes a direct driving connection around the clutch from the sleeve 90 to the shaft 65.

It is, of course, essential to provide means for preventing any endwise shift of the sleeve 90 on the shaft 65. Such shift to the left, viewing Fig.

"l, is prevented by a circular flange IIS on the inner periphery of the ring 93 overlapping one side of a circular rib I I! on the shaft 65. A shift of the sleeve 90 in the other direction, to the right viewing Fig. 7, is prevented by a locking ring II8 that encircles the sleeve 90 and is secured at its outer periphery by machine screws I I 9 to one side of the fixed gear casing 85, the hub I20 of this ring having an end bearing against one end of the hub member 89' of the gear wheel 89, which hub member is integral with the sleeve 90, as shown in Fig. 7. Another locking ring II8 bolted to the left side of gear casing 85 may also be employed to cooperate with the other end of hub member 89 in preventing sleeve 90 from moving to the left.

The above described magnetic clutch, exclusive of the safety feature (arm I01), is a known commercial article going under the name of the Ding magnetic clutch, and no claim of novelty to the details thereof is made herein.

Manual slice raising and lowering mechanism For emergency use to fully raise and lower the slice if the power mechanism above described should fail to function, we preferably equip the machine with a manually operable means for this purpose, which utilizes some of the power operated mechanism. Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, the rod -which extends through the sleeve 69 is locked against endwise movement relatively to the sleeve in an upward direction by a stop collar I2I fast thereon abutting against the lower end of the sleeve 59, and in a downward direction by the hub I22 of a hand wheel I23 that is keyed on the upper end of the rod III, the lower end of the hub I22 bearing against the upper end of the sleeve 69. The threaded portion of the rod I0 is of sufficient length relatively to the tapped sleeve II with which it cooperates to permit full lifting and lowering of the slice by a simple turning of the hand wheels I23. Of course, when the power lift mechanism is operating properly, the hand wheels I23 are idle, except as their hubs I22 transmit rising movement of the sleeves 69 to the rods I0.

Quick lift mechanism The weight actuated quick lift mechanism is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. Keyed on the lift shaft 65 just inwardly of the collar 66 is a grooved pulley I24, which may be cast integral with the collar 65 as indicated in Fig. 2. Attached at one end to the periphery of pulley I24 is a cable I25 that extends from the top of the pulley across and above the inlet box, and over guide pulleys I26 and I 21'. On the lower end of the cable I25 depending from the guide pulley I2! is hung a weight I28. When the lift shaft 65 is rotated counter-clockwise viewing Fig. 1 to fully raise the slice, the weight I28 is-lowered; and when the i lift shaftis rotated in the reverse direction to lower the slice, the weight I28 is raised. If now. with the slice in its lowered operative position shown in Fig. l, the magnetic clutch becomes deenergized and opens (which might occur through a break-down of the pump motor supplying stock to the machine), the transmission from motor 81 to shaft 65 is broken, and the weight I 28 instantly acts to transmit to the shaft 65 a half rotation counter-clockwise viewing Fig. 1, which instantly fully raises the slice, and thus avoids any damage to the lip of the slice by the Fourdrinier wire which, as shown in Fig. 1, is downwardly deflected by the pressure of the stock on the wire between the breastroll 2I and the first table roll. The extent of action of this quick lift mechanism is limited by a bumper I29 fast on the inner side of the pulley I24 cooperating with a fixed stop I30, which limits the rotation of the pulley and shaft to degrees. To avoid undue shock; the stop I30, or at least the upper portion thereof, is made as a rubber cushion.

Sealing mechanism The details of the sealing mechanism for confining the stock against escape at and behind the slice are best shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12 and 13. To each end edge of the slice plate 53 is attached a shoe holder I3I, on the bottom of which is mounted a rubber shoe I32 formed with a longitudinally convex bottom surface. The shoe holder is attached to the end edge of the slice by the means best shown in Fig. 6. The holder is formed with upper and lower hollow bosses I33 and I34 (Fig. 11). In the end edge of the slice are tapped holes I31 and I38 (Fig. 10) in which are entered threaded rods I39 and I 40 that extend through the hollow bosses I33 and I34 and are equipped on their outer ends with knurled knobs HI and I42. Encircling the rods I39 and I40 are washers I35 and I36 that are confined between the knobs and the outer sides of the hollow bosses. This permits enough play so that the shoe I32 may be adjusted to fit the contour of a wire stationary shoe (later referred to) before being clamped in position by tightening the rods and washers. To provide a full thrust bearing for the bosses I33 and I34 on the slice we attach to the front face of the latter an angle bracket I 45 (see Fig. 5). As shown in Fig. 4 the base of the shoe holder I3I is wide enough to overlap .the Joint between the slice lip and its bearing on the guide rail.

In the fully lowered operative position of.the slice, the shoe I32 partly overlaps and cooperates with a stationary wire rubber shoe I49 that is secured to the lower front portion of the inlet side wall I6. Attached to the end wall 44 of the guide rail by screws I 41 (Fig. 4) entering tapped holes I48 (Fig. 10) is a plate I49, shownin isolated detail in the group view Fig. 11, the forward edge portion of which underlies the rear edge portion of the shoe holder I3I, as shown in Fig. 5. This plate I49 is also attached to 'the inlet box side plate I5 by means of an angle bracket I50, one wing of which is attached to the plate I49 by rivets I5 I and one of the attaching screws I41, and the other limb of which is attached to the wall I 6 by a screw I 52. A lower screw I53 extending through an apertured lug I54 on the rear edge of the plate I49, attaches the latter to a fiat inclined edge I56 of the wall I6. The lower rear portion of this plate I49 forms an end closure forthe inlet discharge nozzle. The rear end of the fixed rubber shoe I46 is formed with a dovetail rib I46 that fits a correspondingly shaped groove in a shoe holder I55. The rear inclined face of the shoe holder I55 fits against the lower portion of the fiat inclined edge I56 of the wall I6 and at its upper end is secured to the latter by a clamp plate I51 attached to the edge I56 of wall I6 by a screw I58, the plate I51 having a lower beveled edge I59 that overlaps a vertical shoulder I66 on the upper end of the shoe holder I55. On the lower portion of the shoe holder I55 is a rearwardly extending horizontal rib I6I that fits into a correspondingly. shaped groove I62 in the forward end of a fixed bar I63 that is attached to and extends somewhat forwardly of the forward portion of the top plate 20.

The apron 23, which overlies the forward inclined portion of the lower nozzle plate 22 and extends onto the wire slightly beyond the vertical diameter of the breastroll, is attached at its rear end to the nozzle plate 22 by a clamp strip I64, and a portion of each side edge of said apron is turned upwardly, as best shown in Fi S-, 12 and 13, and is clamped to the inner side of the plate I49 by a clamp bar I65 and attaching screws I66. As a further guard against leakage of the stock,

each lower edge portion of the wall 32 is formed with grooves I61, which may be continued downwardly into the end plate 44 of the guide rail M to receive packing that cooperates with the inlet side wall I6 and the plate I49 which bear against the packing. The ends of the liner strip 48 also have grooves I61 (Fig. 10) to contain packing for the same purpose.

Attached to the outer side of the shoe holder I 3I, as by a wing-screw I68 and dowels I68 is a lateral shoe clamp I69 (Figs. 4 and 5) that overlaps the outer side of the shoe I32, and, in the fully lowered position of theslice, also overlaps the outer side ofthe shoe I46 and the joint between the shoes, as shown in Fig. 4, and resists outward lateral thrust of the stock on both shoes.

At I16 (Figs. 1 and 3) we have indicated the usual distributor roll atthe forward end of the spout, the spindles of which are preferably mounted in bearings carried by the side walls I6 of the inlet box that include means for adjusting the spindles both horizontally and vertically so as to vary the position of the distributor roll.

Such spindle bearings are shown and described in Letters Patent No. 2,225,435, dated December 1'7, 1940, to William R. Kellett and Harry M. Ostertag, but, since they form no part of the present invention, are not herein illustrated.

It will be observed that in the present construction the downwardly and forwardly inclined top wall of the discharge'nozzle of the inlet box is rigid, and takes the place of the more usual downwardly and forwardly inclined slice that is hinged at its rear edge to inlet box, as disclosed, for example, in our pending application, Serial No. 260,956, hereinabove referred to. This new conetruction permits loeating the distributor roll further forward than has heretofore been possible*?and more nearly above the mat forming area on the wire, as is best shown by Fig. 3, which effects a final equalization of flow and breaking-up of lumps at the mouth of the discharge nozzle.

. By the present construction the slice lip israised and lowered in a vertical plane, rather than on an arc as in previous constructions where the lip is integral with or secured to the lower end of a pivoted slice plate.

It is evident that changes in the structural deical equivalents as fall within the purview and coverage of the claims.

We claim: I v V 1. In a hydraulic inlet forFourdrinier paper making machines, the combination with an inlet box having a discharge nozzle formed with a rigid top rail having a downwardly and forwardly inclined fiat inner surface and a vertical front bearing surface, of a slice plate having fast with its lower end a rigid vertical lip in slidable contact with said front bearing surface and formed with a beveled lower edge, means for pressing said lip against said bearing surface, and means for raising and. lowering said plate and lip.

2. In a hydraulic inlet for Fourdrinier paper making machines, the combination with an inlet box having a discharge nozzle formed with a rigid toprail havinga downwardly and forwardly inclined flat inner Sllrface and spaced upper and lower vertical front bearing surfaces, of a 3. A specific form of the subject-matter defined in claim 2, wherein the means for pressing the slice plate and lip against their respective bearing surfaces includes thrust springs located between the upper and lower bearing surfaces and means for adjusting the tension of said springs.

4. In a hydraulic inlet for paper making machines, the combination with an inlet box containing a flow spout, of a bracket attached to the front wall of said box, a guide rail attached to the bottom of said bracket, said guide rail constituting-the rigid top member of a discharge nozzle communicating with the discharge end of said spout and formed with a flat downwardly the forward end of the I and forwardly inclined inner surface and a vertical front bearing surface having a liner strip countersunk therein, a slice plate having fast.

with its lower end a rigid vertical lip in slidable contact with said front bearing surface, meansfor elastically pressing said lip against said hearing surface, and means for raising and lowering said plate and lip. I

5. In a hydraulic inlet for paper making machines, the combination with an inlet box containing a flow spout, of a bracket attached to the front wall of said box, a guide rail attached to the bottom of said bracket, said guide rail constituting the rigid top member of a discharge nozzle communicating with the discharge end of said spout and formed with a flat downwardly and forwardly inclined inner surface and spaced upper and lower vertical front bearing surfaces,

a slice plate in slidable contact with said upper" bearing surface and having attached to its lower end a rigid vertical lip in slidable contact with said lower bearing surface, means for elastically pressing said plate and lip against their respective bearing surfaces, and means for raising and lowering said plate and lip.

6. In a hydraulic inlet of the type described, the combination of a fixed guide rail, a vertically adjustable slice in slidable contact with said guide rail and having vertical slots, and means for pressing said slice against said guide rail comprising rods mounted in said guide rail and projecting forwardly through said slots, clamp blocks slidable on the projecting portions of said rods and bearing on the front face of said slice, nuts on the outer ends of said rod, and thrust springs confined between said clamp blocks and nuts.

'7. In combination with an inlet box having a discharge nozzle, and a vertically slidable slice plate carrrying a rigid vertical lip controlling the discharge of stock from said nozzle, of a motor and transmission mechanism therefromto said slice for raising and lowering the latter, and weight-actuated means connected to said slice operative to automatically efiect a quick lift of said slice in the event of a break in said transmission mechanism.

8. In combination with an inlet box having a discharge nozzle, and a vertically slidable slice plate carrying a rigid vertical lip controlling the discharge of stock from said nozzle, of a rotatable lift shaft and operating connections therefrom to said slice plate, a motor and transmission mechanism therefrom to said lift shaft to rotate the latter, said transmission mechanism including'a magnetic clutch normally electrically energized to closed position and spring-urged to open position, and weight-actuated means connected to said lift shaft operating automatically to effect a quick rotation of said shaft in a direction to lift said slice in the event of a shift of said clutch from closed to open position.

9. An embodiment of the subject-matter defined in claim 8, wherein the means operating automatically to eifect a quick lift of the slice comprises a pulley fast on the lift shaft, a cord connected to said pulley, and a weight suspended by said cord.

10. An embodiment of the subject-matter defined in claim 8, wherein the means operating automatically to effect a quick lift of the slice comprises a pulley fast on the lift shaft, a cord connected to said pulley, a weight hung from said cord, a bumper on said pulley, and a fixed stop cooperating with said bumper to limit the turning movements of said pulley and lift shaft.

11. In a. hydraulic inlet for Fourdrinier paper making machines, the combination with an inlet box having a discharge nozzle formed with a rigid top wall having a downwardly and forwardly inclined inner surface and a vertical front bearing surface, of a slice plate carrying on its lower end a rigid vertical lip in slidable contact with said front bearing surface, means for pressing said lip against said bearing surface, means for raising and lowering said slice plate and lip, and sealing means for preventing the discharge of stock laterally of the discharge nozzle and lip including a fixed wire engaging rubber shoe at each side of the inlet box attached to a side wall of the latter, and a vertically movable rubber shoe attached to an end edge of the slice plate and overlapping said fixed shoe.

12. An embodiment of thesubject-matter defined in' claim 11, wherein the sealing means includes a fixed wire-engaging rubber shoe at each side of the inlet box attached to a side wall of the latter. and a vertically movable rubber shoe attached to an end edge of the slice plate and overlapping said fixed shoe, and the contacting faces of said shoes are the one convex and the other concave.

13. An embodiment of the subject-matter defined in claim'll, wherein the sealing means includes a fixed wire-engaging rubber shoe at each side of the inlet box attached to a side wall of the latter, and a vertically movable rubber shoe attached to an end edge of the slice plate and overlapping said fixed shoe, and wherein the lower face of the movable shoe is convex and the upper face of the fixed shoe is concave to fit the convex face of the movable shoe.

14. An embodiment of the subject-matter defined in claim 11, wherein the sealing means includes a fixed wire-engaging rubber shoe at each side of the inlet box attached to a side wall of the latter, a vertically movable rubber shoe attached to an end edge of the slice plate and overlapping said fixed shoe, and a lateral shoe clamp attached to the outer side of said movable shoe and, in the lowered position of the slice plate and lip, overlapping the joint between said shoes.

15. In combination with the subject-matter defined in claim 1, sealing means for preventing the discharge of stock laterally of the discharge nozzle and slice lip, comprising a plate attached to each end of the top wall of the discharge nozzle and forming an end closure for the nozzle, 2. fixed wire-engaging rubber shoe attached'to a side wall of the inlet box on the outer side of said plate, and a vertically movable rubber shoe attached to an end edge of the slice plate and overlapping said fixed shoe.

16. In combination with the subject-matter defined in claim 1, sealing means for preventing the discharge of stock laterally of the discharge nozzle and slice lip, comprising a plate attached to each end of the top wall of the discharge nozzle and forming an end closure for the nozzle, a fixed wire-engaging rubber shoe attached to a side wall of the inlet box on the outer side of said plate, a vertically movable rubber shoe attached to an end edge of the slice plate and overlapping said fixed shoe, and a lateral shoe clamp attached to the outer side of said movable shoe and, in the lowered position of the slice plate and lip, overlapping the joint between said shoes.

WILLIAM R. KELLEI'I. HURON C. BRIEN. 

